BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSEleven-year-old Langston has lost his mother and been uprooted from his Alabama home, arriving in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood in the fall of 1946 with only his quiet, grieving father. The cramped kitchenette apartment feels nothing like home, the kids at school mock his accent and overalls, and a bully named Lymon makes every day miserable. Then, while trying to escape Lymon one rainy afternoon, Langston stumbles into the George Cleveland Hall Branch library and pulls a book of poetry from the shelf. The poet's name is Langston Hughes, and the words inside feel like they were written straight from his own heart.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Finding Langston
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Finding Langston. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book do mourners pile a boy's plate with fried chicken and potato salad after his mama's funeral?
✓ Answer
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Folks from the Alabama church tell the boy to sit down and eat, but for the first time in his life he cannot swallow a bite. He watches everyone fill the rooms where his mama used to be.
- First half
In what book does a boy hide a borrowed library book wedged between his bed frame and the wall?
✓ Answer
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
The narrator doesn't want his daddy to know about the library, so he wedges his first borrowed book tight between the bed and the wall. He sneaks it out at night to read after his daddy snores.
- First half
In what book does a bully punch a boy in the mouth for telling him to leave him alone?
✓ Answer
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
After weeks of being shoved around, the narrator finally yells at Lymon to leave him alone. Lymon answers with a fist to the mouth so hard the boy thinks his head will break in two.
- Second half
In what book does a boy wolf down pork chops smothered in gravy, green beans, and hot cornbread?
✓ Answer
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Miss Fulton cooks the boy a feast on the first night his father is away. He admits he hasn't had a meal this good since he left home in Alabama.
- Second half
In what book does a boy spot a classroom bully at the library checking out a book?
✓ Answer
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
The narrator is shocked to see Clem at Miss Cook's desk. Clem says Lymon does not know he comes, and that he shows up by himself some Thursdays when his mama has to work late.
- Near the end
In what book does a boy ask his father if he is in love with the neighbor across the hall?
✓ Answer
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
After watching his father watch Pearl walk to her door, the narrator blurts out the question. Henry makes a sound between coughing and laughing and changes the subject to the new poetry book.
